Kim Devins is still grappling with the aftermath of her daughter Bianca’s gruesome death, receiving disturbing messages online from strangers who recreate her daughter’s death photo with a Lego person and send her vicious messages. Bianca was killed by a man she met on Instagram in July 2019, who then posted photos of her corpse online, which went viral. Devins is now speaking out in a true-crime series, “Deadly Influence,” to shed light on the dark side of social media and advocate for changes in legislation and social media company policies to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Bianca was described as a bright and caring individual who struggled with mental health issues but always tried to help others. She turned to social media to find a sense of community and connect with others who shared similar struggles. Devins was initially concerned about Bianca’s online following and closely monitored her daughter’s interactions and activities, but despite her efforts, Bianca met Brandon Clark, 21, on Instagram, and their relationship quickly turned intimate. Devins met Clark several times and had no inkling of the tragedy that was about to unfold.
The night of the incident, Bianca and Clark got into an argument that led to Clark brutally killing Bianca with a knife. Clark then posted photos of the crime scene online before attempting to take his own life. Devins and her family were continuously tagged in these gruesome photos with vile messages, struggling to get them taken down as social media platforms deemed the content not violating their guidelines. Devins advocated for changes in laws to hold social media companies accountable and campaigned for Bianca’s Law, which was eventually signed in New York to criminalize the dissemination of crime scene photos online.
Clark was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of Bianca, but Devins emphasizes that true justice for her daughter will never be fully achieved. She continues to advocate for broader legislation to protect children and families from similar online abuses and traumatic experiences. Devins urges parents to monitor their children’s online activities closely, but also acknowledges that even the most cautious precautions may not always prevent tragic outcomes. “Deadly Influence,” a true-crime series that sheds light on the dangers of toxic online communities, will air on June 17 at 9 p.m., highlighting the importance of addressing these issues and ensuring the safety of individuals online.
